Richmond Park: Historic and Still Lovely

Jane Austen's World

Gentle Readers, It may please you to know that frequent contributer, Tony Grant (London Calling), lives near Richmond Park, a wilderness that has kept its pristine nature for centuries. Enjoy these beautiful photographs.

Richmond Park is situated 12 miles south west of St Pauls Cathedral in the city of London. It just happens to be two miles from where I live on the edge of Wimbledon and abuts Wimbledon Common that stretches for a few miles on the other side of the Kingston Road.

The Kingston Road is a very old road running between Kingston upon Thames and the City of London. It bisects Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park on it’s way. Jane Austen would have travelled often along it on her way from Hampshire by way of Kingston upon Thames to her brother Henry’s house in Henrietta Street or to one of the other houses Henry owned…

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Sunday News!

This is the first Sunday News in a while, and I’m sad to say, the last. As you all know, this year I start my new print series. I am also writing novellas that will release in between the big book releases, and I’m writing a novella series that I will self-publish. Despite my best efforts, I am unable to keep up the writing schedule and blog with any regularity. Not to mention, my lack of consistent internet. To give you an example, I have an internet connection at the moment only when the boat swings a certain way.

I have, however, joined the lovely group of ladies at Embracing Romance, where I will blog once a month. I hope you will join me there.

I will continue to post new releases, pre-orders, and contests but if you are not on Facebook with me, I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter. Actually, I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter in any event.

Now for the good news. Congratulations to Natasha for winning a copy of Sandra Master’s book.

Most of you know that I have two releases coming in the very near future. The first is a novella, A Promise of Love, which is book #1 in my novella series The Trevors. Those of you who read Miss Featherton’s Christmas Prince, the last book in The Marriage Game will remember Damon’s father, the nasty, horrible duke. More than one reader truly wished I had gotten rid of him. But I needed him for the series. After all, I could not write about how his many children escape the despot when I’d already done him in. Apologies to you, but needs must.

A Promise of Love is part of a box set, Passionate Promises which releases on February 15th, and I’m having a pre-order contest to help launch the series. To enter, you must provide a proof of purchase by completing the form. When the book releases, everyone who entered will receive a private link to the prologue of the next book in the series! I hope all of you will enter and spread the word to your family and friends!

PREORDER HERE: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

On March 29th, what my publisher calls an April release, Three Weeks to Wed, the first book in The Worthingtons, hits the shelves, or if you read in ebook format, will magically download to your device. So, I’m having another pre-order contest sponsored by my publisher. On release day, everyone who entered will be able to access the prologue to Three Weeks to Wed. Please follow this link to enter.

I promise you that neither of these prologues will be available again at any time; no matter what promises or bribes I receive or dire threats are made. They are strictly for those of you who pre-order and enter the contests.

PREORDER HERE: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

As I alluded to above, we’ve been traveling. Here are some pictures.

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Guest Author Sandra Masters!P

Please welcome historical author Sandra Masters to the blog. Sandra is here today to tell us about her latest release, My Divinely Decadent Duke!! She will also give away one copy of the book to one of you who leaves a comment saying you want it.

We begin with the cover.

Next the blurb.

Orphaned and abandoned by family, Lady Cassandra Montgomery yearns for love. Beautiful and innocent, she attracts the attention of a renowned rake, the Duke of Althorn. When her security is threatened, she offers him a proposal for an arranged marriage in exchange for his guarantee of safety for her and her ward. After her first taste of desire in his arms, she finds the sexual attraction irresistible. Finding herself in a family way, she leaves his home, unsure of his love.

The Duke is at first enraged by the brazen behavior, yet he sees Cassandra as a captivating caregiver for his mother and impossible to resist. He agrees. The arrangement becomes inconvenient because love and sex enter the equation.

Will she believe her husband truly loves her and return to his waiting arms?

Will the Duke admit his love and use his rakish skills to woo Cassandra back to his bed?

 

 

Now an excerpt.

“What about love and passion?” Cassandra wondered until she realized she spoke the words aloud. Enough. Everything but the one thing I want. And you think you are not cruel, Gordon?

“They shall take care of themselves with time. I will not force myself on you…unless you wish it of me. I would like the opportunity to demonstrate to you I am a good man you may wish to know better, Cassandra. Goodness knows you’ve seen many sides of me.”

She found it easy to believe because she wanted to. Somehow the arranged marriage did not sound as insane as before. At least she wouldn’t have to marry Ashcombe, a perfect stranger. Her choices were an older, gentle man, or the younger scandalous rake she loved.

Her mind spun.

Her world twirled.

She swayed.

He held her steady in his arms.

Her heart broke.

And then he did a terrible thing.

He kissed her with tender gentleness and coaxed open her lips. Their mouths melded together. Her body molded to his and it was perfect. She heard heart beats, pulse beats, thunderous beats. To be so close to him, so near, so in need—it was so unfair. She rested her head on his broad chest and made her decision.

“You are an innocent and a temptation I cannot afford, but I want you,” Gordon murmured.

Was it better to be miserable with him than without him?

When God wants to punish you, he grants you your dreams.

 

Buy link. Amazon

 

About Sandra.

Retired executive, Sandra Masters, rose from a humble beginning in Newark, NJ, a short stay at a convent in Morristown, NJ, to the board rooms of NYC, and a fantastic career for a broadcasting company in Carlsbad, California, to the rural foothills of the Sierras of Yosemite National Park, she has always traveled with pen and notebook. It’s been the journey of ten thousand miles. She left her corporate world behind and never looked back.

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